10:36 – Oh boy, Punt-Pass-Kick champions. I can’t be too cynical – it’s cool for these kids to be recognized on television like this.

10:37 – That kid in the Steelers jersey looks like a punk, though.

10:39 – Why do announcers refer to quarterback runs as “scampers”? They’re not bunny rabbits, they’re people, and people do not scamper.

10:41 – “Signal to Noise said…I shall steal MJD’s cynicism and modify on the Punt, Pass and Kick kids: say hello to the Future Mr. and Ms. Buzzcuts of America, terrorizing fat kids in gym class.”

The last girl they showed definitely has a future as the next Holly Mangold.

10:42 – The Eagles are knocked backwards for a two-yard loss on third-and-one, leading to a David Akers field goal: Saints 27, Eagles 24.

10:44 – Who let that elephant into the stadium?

10:45 – A warning now, as the Saints return the kickoff: if this game goes to overtime, I cannot be responsible for any words that are typed on this keyboard. It’s not that I’m exceptionally tired (I might even write something for my own blog later), but seven consecutive hours of watching and commenting on football has a numbing effect on the brain. So if I start typing gibberish or cursing like I have Tourette’s, just go along with it.

10:49 – Not to stray too far from the game here, but you know the toughest thing about coming up with a name for your kid? The knowledge that you could give a hot name to an ugly kid, or vice versa. For instance: last night at the store, we were helped by a very attractive young lady. Her name? Patricia, which is kind of an old lady name (really, she should have gone by Trish or Trisha – that would have been better than the “Pat” it sounded like she was using). Conversely, Holly is a name you would expect to hear attached to an attractive girl, but we all know Hollys who are in no way attractive. Aw, hell: if it’s a girl, we’ll probably just give her one good name and one old lady name and let her decide when she gets older.

I hope it’s a boy – then all we have to worry about is not calling him Billy or Willy or Sammy or some other name best suited for a six year old.

10:53 – Remarkably, I typed all of that without much happening in this game. Go figure.

10:54 – Johnston just made the good point that the defenses are starting to “flex their muscles”, with both sides picking up big stops on consecutive series. Not gonna lie – I’m somewhat excited to watch the last 8:20 of this game.

10:59 – McAllister hit hard, but he managed to get just enough for the first down. Saints have taken two minutes off the clock and are noticeably trying to run the time down.

11:00 – Great playaction call on second down after several running plays, but Brees missed Copper deep.

11:01 – Slant to Colston for thirteen yards and a first down. Clock’s getting down close to 5:00 to play.

11:02 – Bush breaks outside for about eight, followed by McAllister up the middle for the first down. The Saints appear to be in total control right now with 3:21 to play.

11:04 – Commercial. I have something to get off my chest: saw Talladega Nights last night, and truthfully, I wasn’t impressed. Sure, it had some good moments that made me laugh out loud, but it wasn’t as overall strong as Anchorman or The Forty-Year Old Virgin. Just wanted to throw that out there while I had the chance.

11:05 – Back from commercial, and that’s just about the worst thing that could have happened to the Saints right now. Pitch to Bush, off his hands, Eagles recover. Remarkably, it’s the first turnover for either team in this game.

11:06 – Garcia with a floater to Westbrook that stays in the air FOREVER, allowing Fred Thomas to close on the play and very nearly remove Westbrook’s head from his shoulders.

11:09 – Eagles do nothing on downs one through three…and Garcia is SMOKED, but still completes it downfield to Hank Baskett for a first down…and a false start negates the play and the Eagles elect to punt on fourth-and-15. I’m glad I’m not an Eagles fan, because I would probably be pissed right now.

11:12 – Less than two minutes to play, one timeout left for the Eagles, 2nd and six…and Deuce drives to within a yard of the yard marker. He has been close to unstoppable tonight when he NEEDS to get yards.

11:13 – Eagles need a big play on defense…at the very least a stop on third and one, at the best a turnover.

11:15 – I just realized something: where’s Donovan McNabb? We saw him all over the place during the Wild Card game, but he and Kearse have been invisible tonight. Is it because they’re on the road?

11:16 – Deuce up the middle easily for the first down and that’s ballgame: Saints win, 27-24.

11:17 – This day-long orgy of NFL playoffs and live-blogging didn’t start off well – that Colts-Ravens game almost put me to sleep – but the late game more than made up for it. It was exciting and well played – the Eagles might have lost, but they can’t be disappointed with the way they played. As I said earlier, both teams were playing like they WANTED to win, which is something you can’t say about the first game.

11:20 – Thanks to everyone who followed along throughout the course of the day and kept me company with your comments. One of those guys, Signal to Noise, will be back here tomorrow with the live-blog of the Patriots-Chargers game, and Hall of Fame-caliber commenter Sam T is going to cover the early matchup between the Seahawks and the Bears.

Again, my name is Brian, my blog is One More Dying Quail, and thanks for joining me for the last seven hours of football. Good night!

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